Grizzlies end Blazers’ hot streak, win 112-99

The Grizzlies moved two games clear atop the Southwest Division, ahead of an injury-depleted Houston which was comfortably beaten at home by the Los Angeles Clippers, while other key results saw Dallas win at Eastern Conference leader Toronto and San Antonio won in the absence of its head coach, defeating Sacramento.

Memphis’ Marc Gasol had 26 points and nine assists while Mike Conley added 21 points and 10 rebounds as the Grizzlies improved to an impressive 14-2 record. Conley only narrowly missed out on a triple double, as he had nine assists.

Wesley Matthews scored 26 or the Blazers, who whittled a 15-point deficit back to four points in the fourth quarter but could not sustain that momentum.

Dallas’ Monta Ellis scored 15 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter to guide the Mavericks to a 106-102 victory at Toronto.

Tyson Chandler had 11 points and 10 rebounds for the Mavericks, who got a win on the occasion of coach Rick Carlisle’s 300th game. He is the third Dallas coach to reach the mark after Don Nelson and Dick Motta.

Kyle Lowry scored 25 points for the Raptors, who lost DeMar DeRozan to a groin strain in the third quarter, and saw their Eastern Conference lead trimmed to three games.

The Los Angeles Clippers coasted to a 102-85 win at Houston, with Blake Griffin having 30 points and 10 rebounds.

Jamal Crawford added 21 points for the Clippers, who took the lead late in the first quarter and comfortably pulled away.

The Rockets were playing their fifth straight game without Dwight Howard (knee strain) and were also missing two other starters. James Harden had 16 points to lead Houston.

San Antonio notched a 112-104 home win over Sacramento, despite a second-straight game without head coach Gregg Popovich, who has an undisclosed illness.

Popovich did meet with the players on the morning of the game, but his status for an upcoming four-game road trip is unknown.

Tony Parker had 27 points and Kawhi Leonard had 19 for the Spurs, who were led by assistant coach Ettore Messina.